Union County, SD truck route planning & crash data
Plan safer truck routes in Union County: commercial truck and garbage truck crashes, dangerous roads, seasonality and route safety data for fleets.
Where fatal truck crashes happened
Risk scorecard
Key findings
Snapshot
Crashes by month
Garbage trucks vs all trucks
1 of 188 truck crashes since 2015.
Deadliest roads
How Union County compares with South Dakota
Union County against South Dakota and the US, 2015–2025 (years with complete crash reporting). Per-resident rates make big and small places comparable.
Where Union County stands out
Full comparison
| Measure (2015–2025) | Union County | South Dakota | United States | vs state |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Crashes per 100k residents / yr | 90.4 | 42.0 | 49.7 | 2.2× the state |
| Deaths per 100 crashes | 4.6 | 5.2 | 3.4 | 12% below the state |
| Injuries per crash | 0.09 | 0.13 | 0.49 | 31% below the state |
| Garbage-truck share | 0.6% | 1.6% | 2.3% | 64% below the state |
| On snow, slush or ice | 37.6% | 28.6% | 6.2% | 1.3× the state |
| Morning rush (6–10 am) | 23.7% | 22.2% | 23.7% | same |
| In rain, sleet or snow | 27.2% | 17.5% | 13.8% | 1.5× the state |
| Winter months (Nov–Mar) | 56.1% | 48.8% | 41.9% | 1.1× the state |
| After dark | 28.3% | 22.8% | 24.8% | 1.2× the state |
Compared with South Dakota, Union County is lower on deaths per 100 crashes, injuries per crash and garbage-truck share. It runs above South Dakota on crashes per 100k residents / yr, on snow, slush or ice and in rain, sleet or snow.
What stands out in Union County: December 16.0% of truck crashes happen in December, more than any other month.
Overview
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks have been reported in Union County. They injured 17 people and killed 8.
That averages about one truck crash every 23 days in fully reported years.
When crashes happen
December has the most truck crashes, 16.0% of the yearly total, while October has the fewest (2.7%).
Winter months (Nov–Mar) carry 56.1% of truck crashes, vs 48.8% for South Dakota.
More truck crashes happen at 1–2 pm than at any other hour (10.1%).
Snow, slush or ice was on the road in 37.6% of truck crashes, compared with 28.6% in South Dakota.
Where crashes happen
Within this area, I-29 had the most fatal crashes involving a large truck since 2015 (3). After it: SR-11 (1) and SR-46 (1).
Garbage & waste trucks
Garbage and refuse trucks were involved in 1 crash, 0.5% of the total, against 1.6% across South Dakota.
Route planning tips for Union County fleets
- Build extra time into December routes: it has the most truck crashes here.
- Check whether your routes use I-29, the road with the most fatal truck crashes in this area.
- 37.6% of truck crashes were on snow, slush or ice, above South Dakota; plan winter equipment checks before the season.
- Paste your stops into the free Route Planner to see the risk score, safer alternatives and low bridges.
About the data
Sources: the FMCSA crash file for all reported truck crashes and NHTSA FARS for fatal crashes with a large truck. Every statement here comes straight from those numbers.
Truck crashes by year: all trucks vs garbage trucks
Seasonality: when trucks crash in Union County
By hour of day
Most dangerous roads for trucks
| Road | Fatal truck crashes since 2015 (in Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 3 |
| SR-11 | 1 |
| SR-46 | 1 |
Roads named most in all truck crash reports
| Road | Truck crashes since 2015 (Union County) |
|---|---|
| I-29 | 139 |
| Sd Hwy 50 | 10 |
| Sd Hwy 46 | 8 |
| Ave | 6 |
| N Derby Ln | 4 |
| Sd Hwy 48 | 3 |
| River Dr | 2 |
| First St | 1 |
Union County at a glance
| Population | 17,402 |
| Land area | 460.8 sq mi |
| Density | 38 per sq mi |
| Median household income (ZIP average) | $92,616 |
Waste facilities and haulers nearby
Historical data: truck crashes in Union County since the 1990s
Combines the FMCSA crash file (all reported truck crashes, real coverage from about 1990) with NHTSA FARS (fatal crashes involving a large truck, 1982–2024).
| Decade | Truck crashes / yr | Change | Fatal crashes / yr (FARS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 11 | — | 0.4 |
| 2000s | 10 | -4% | 0.2 |
| 2010s | 13 | +28% | 0.3 |
| 2020s | 18 | +36% | 0.8 |
In the 1990s about 11 truck crashes a year were reported; in the 2020s, about 18. Reporting coverage also changed between these periods. Fatal large-truck crashes: 0.2 a year in 2016–19, 0.8 a year in 2020–24.
Cities, towns & communities in Union County
ZIP codes in Union County
Nearby counties
Questions fleets ask about Union County
How many truck accidents are there in Union County?
Since 2015, 188 crashes involving commercial trucks were reported in Union County (17 injured, 8 killed).
Where do fatal truck crashes happen most in Union County?
NHTSA data shows I-29 with 3 fatal large-truck crashes in Union County since 2015, the highest of any road.
When do most truck crashes happen in Union County?
Truck crashes in Union County peak in December, with 16.0% of the year's crashes.
How many garbage truck crashes are there in Union County?
Since 2015, Union County has reported 1 garbage-truck crash, or 0.5% of its truck crashes.
How do truck crashes in Union County compare with South Dakota?
Union County records 90.4 truck crashes per 100,000 residents a year, against 42.0 across South Dakota.
How can I plan a safer truck route in Union County?
The free Route Planner takes your stops and returns a route risk score, safer alternatives and low-bridge warnings.
2026 is a partial year. Updated October 2026.